Sophie Parker

About Me

“I am a dedicated advocate for increasing female participation in play, active recreation, and sport. With a Master of Business in Sport Leadership and Management (First Class Honours) from Auckland University of Technology, I bring a strong academic foundation and a deep commitment to driving positive change in the play, active recreation and sport sector. Following my postgraduate studies, I was selected for Sport New Zealand’s highly sought-after Graduate Programme, where I spent two years contributing to strategic initiatives and gaining in-depth experience in sector development, policy implementation, and system-level change. Currently, I serve as a Government Advisor for New Zealand Major Events at the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. In this role, I manage a diverse portfolio of arts, culture and sport events and oversee investment lifecycles, ensuring alignment with national priorities and delivering impactful outcomes. I am now seeking opportunities to further apply and expand my expertise in governance within the play, active recreation, and sport sector. My goal is to support organisations in creating inclusive, sustainable, and transformative system change that empowers communities - especially women and girls - to thrive through active participation.”